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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Pontotoc, TX

Home Care Pontotoc, TX

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Pontotoc Monument Co gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Pontotoc, TX is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Pontotoc, TX

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“I work for this team and it's a wonderful team , great communication and support for our clients, their family members and our caring team of staff .”

Antoinette G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken and Bonnie are wonderful people to help care for your loved ones. their staff was so caring to my mother and so nice to my family I highly recommend them to take care of your loved ones. I think there ought to be more than just five stars to give them”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken and Bonnie were wonderful to work with. They were able to provide my mother with care and a very short notice. Their staff was some of the most caring people that I've ever met. Not only were they wonderful to my mother but also to my family. I would highly recommend using them.”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Very professional and welcoming people so I would definitely recommend my friends and family to Always Best Care in Boerne.”

Laurie K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The owner is so understanding and supportive of how I want my loved ones cared for. He and his staff actually listen to what I would like done for my parents. Very thoughtful, very professional and very caring. It’s such a relief to have help in caring for my loved ones”

Kristen B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ALWAYS BEST CARE is certainly a warm & caring business owned & operated by Ken Thomas. I certainly would recommend them for you or your loved ones excellent care.”

Shirley S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is kind, patient, experienced and knowledgeable. We are thankful to him for all his efforts and for going above and beyond.”

Chae S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“For those who are searching for qualified caregivers for their loved ones, contact Ken Thomas at Always Best Care Senior Services. Mr. Thomas provides an authentic and professional guiding hand when discussing available services for your precious senior family members. When it is time for a beloved senior to receive assistance, Mr. Thomas understands the importance of providing trustworthy and quality support.”

Melissa C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken leads his Always Best Care Senior Services Agency with compassion for his clients and their families. He is a local senior care expert and leader in his community. If you are need of assistance in navigating your local senior care options, then do not hesitate to give Ken a call!”

Kelly B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is knowledgeable and trustworthy. I can’t recommend him enough. You’re in good hands with Kenneth.”

Chae S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I will be forever grateful for the love you showered upon us and my grandmother”

Jill &.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Pontotoc, TX?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Pontotoc, TX

Types of Elderly Care in Pontotoc, TX

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Pontotoc, TX
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Pontotoc, TX
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Confederate Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Pontotoc, TX
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Yamato Steak House Of Japan or visit Bodock Bed and Breakfast, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Pontotoc, TX

Benefits of Home Care in Pontotoc, TX

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Pontotoc, TX, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Pontotoc, TX

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your TX's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Pontotoc, TX

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Pontotoc, TX understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Pontotoc, TX

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Pontotoc, TX

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Assisted Living Locators of Northern Mississippi
  • Pontotoc Health and Rehab Center
  • Sunshine Health Care
Home Care Pontotoc, TX

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Pontotoc, TX

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Pontotoc, TX 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Pontotoc, TX

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Southern Cultured Creamery: Pontotoc couple opens dairy specializing in milk, cheese

PONTOTOC – Kaitlyn and Jake Anderson were all but destined to be together.She got her bachelor's degree in animal and dairy science from Mississippi State University, and a master's in dairy science from Virginia Tech. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Louisiana State University in animal and dairy science.They met at a dairy science conference in Arizona in 2012, when both were undergraduates, and started dating a while after that. Even before they married six years ago, the two talked about one day ope...

PONTOTOC – Kaitlyn and Jake Anderson were all but destined to be together.

She got her bachelor's degree in animal and dairy science from Mississippi State University, and a master's in dairy science from Virginia Tech. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Louisiana State University in animal and dairy science.

They met at a dairy science conference in Arizona in 2012, when both were undergraduates, and started dating a while after that. Even before they married six years ago, the two talked about one day opening their own dairy.

But the costs of starting a conventional dairy operation are steep.

So they started small.

The couple partnered with Kaitlyn's parents, Scott and Kim Hardin, and opened Southern Cultured Creamery in May. It's located on Highway 15 South between Pontotoc and Houston, across the street from Midway Baptist Church.

"We milk our own cows, process the milk ourselves, and sell directly to the consumer," Kaitlyn said.

"In a conventional dairy, you milk the cows, put the milk in a trailer and send it to the processor," Jake said. "You're subject to market prices. Here, we have a little bit more control."

Right now, the dairy is milking 16 cows a day. Kaitlyn's father, a longtime dairyman, milks in the morning, and Kaitlyn and Jake milk in the early evening, after she gets home from teaching school at Pontotoc Junior High.

The cows are a mixture of soft brown Jerseys and black-and-white Holsteins.

"I tell people we have Blue Bell cows and Chick-fil-A cows," Kaitlyn said. "Most of them have names. We're small enough right now we can do that."

Sirloin, Bama, Fancy, Prancer and Beauty rub shoulders with Bibby, Ugly, Squash, Cocoa and Robin.

"We're not very original with names," she said. "That's not our strong point."

Cheese, please

Southern Cultured Creamery started out in May selling chocolate milk and cream top milk, which has been pasteurized, but not homogenized, meaning the cream has been allowed to naturally separate from the rest of the milk and rise to the top.

In June, they were asked to take their milk to the Pontotoc Farmers Market for National Dairy Month.

"We liked it there and got a good response, so we decided to keep on selling it there," Jake said.

The Saturday before the Fourth of July, Jake had the bright idea of selling red, white and blue milk at the market. So they showed up with white cream top milk, strawberry milk and blueberry milk – and cheese.

"We sell way more white milk than anything, but what really gets people excited is strawberry milk," Kaitlyn said.

Right now, the dairy offers four different cheeses, all in familiar "styles."

"We can't do the tests the larger processors can do to say 'This is a Cheddar,' so we label the cheese for the style it is," Kaitlyn said.

The buttery Gouda-style cheese is called Redland and comes in a red wax. The creamy Tomme-style cheese is named Monroe. The crumbly Caerphilly-style cheese is called Chiwapa, and the spicy Pepper Jack cheese goes by 2Dollar Pistol.

"In a couple of weeks, we'll have a Montasio-style cheese, like what's made in the Italian Alpine area," Kaitlyn said "We'll also have a Cheddar-style cheese coming."

Jake and his father-in-law actually learned to make cheese about five years ago. They took a 10-day class in Vermont and made small batches at home, long before the dairy opened.

"Blue cheese is one I'd eventually like to make, but it requires an aging process we just can't handle right now," Jake said. "There's a fine line where you do too much, and then you don't do any of them well. We want all ours to be good."

Now that the farmers market is closed for the season, the Andersons are selling their milk and cheese at their store at the dairy located at 8930 Highway 15 South, between Pontotoc and Houston. They also sell to some retail outlets, a restaurant and a cheesemaker.

"Right now, the store is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m.," Jake said. "But we're looking to extend our hours."

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Track Covid-19 in Pontotoc County, Okla.

Daily Covid-19 admissions in the Pontotoc County areaAbout the dataData is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalization data is a daily average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Pontotoc County, an area which may be larger than Pontotoc County itself.The number of daily hospital admissions shows how many patients tested positive for Covid in hospitals and is one of the most reliably reported indicators of Covid’s impact on a comm...

Daily Covid-19 admissions in the Pontotoc County area

About the data

Data is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalization data is a daily average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Pontotoc County, an area which may be larger than Pontotoc County itself.

The number of daily hospital admissions shows how many patients tested positive for Covid in hospitals and is one of the most reliably reported indicators of Covid’s impact on a community.

Total population

Ages 65 and up

Total population

Ages 65 and up

An updated vaccine is recommended for adults and most children. Statewide, 6% of vaccinations did not specify a home county.

Nearby hospitals

Share of I.C.U. beds occupied

About this data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notes: The hospitals map shows the average I.C.U. occupancy at nearby hospitals in the most recent week with data reported. The data is self-reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by individual hospitals. It excludes counts from hospitals operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Service. Numbers for hospitalized patients are based on inpatient beds and include I.C.U. beds. Hospitalized Covid-19 patients include both confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients. The C.D.C. stopped reporting data on cases in May 2023.

How trends have changed in Pontotoc County

About this data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notes: Weekly county death data prior to Jan. 2021 was not reported by the C.D.C. and is sourced from reporting by The New York Times. Hospitalization data is a weekly average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Pontotoc County. Hospitalization numbers early in the pandemic are undercounts due to incomplete reporting by hospitals to the federal government.

Historical trends in Pontotoc County

The data in these charts has been archived and they are no longer being updated.

About this data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data in these charts has been archived and they are no longer being updated. Weekly county case data prior to Jan. 2021 was not reported by the C.D.C. and is sourced from reporting by The New York Times. The C.D.C. stopped reporting data on cases in May 2023. Test positivity data is based only on test results reported to the federal government and is a seven-day average.

By Jon Huang, Samuel Jacoby, Jasmine C. Lee, John-Michael Murphy, Charlie Smart and Albert Sun. Additional reporting by Sarah Cahalan, Lisa Waananen Jones, Amy Schoenfeld Walker and Josh Williams. See a full list of contributors to The Times’s Covid-19 data reporting here.

About the data

Data on this page is reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Population and demographic data is from the U.S. Census Bureau. Hospitalization data is reported by individual hospitals to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and it includes confirmed and suspected adult and pediatric patients. The C.D.C. does not provide complete vaccinations data for some counties and caps its vaccination rate figures at 95 percent.

The C.D.C. may make historical updates as more data is reported.

The C.D.C. stopped reporting data on Covid cases in May 2023.

Apex offering chance to learn about proposed wind farm

People who are curious about a proposal to build a wind farm in this area can learn more about the project later this month.The Virginia-based company Apex Clean Energy will host an open house for the Diamond Spring Wind project from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Chickasaw Nation Community Center, 700 N. Mississippi Ave. in Ada. The come-and-go event is open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.Apex team members will be on hand that night to answer questions, and Apex will set up informational boards with details a...

People who are curious about a proposal to build a wind farm in this area can learn more about the project later this month.

The Virginia-based company Apex Clean Energy will host an open house for the Diamond Spring Wind project from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Chickasaw Nation Community Center, 700 N. Mississippi Ave. in Ada. The come-and-go event is open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

Apex team members will be on hand that night to answer questions, and Apex will set up informational boards with details about the Diamond Spring project and wind energy in general.

Diamond Spring

Apex is in the late stages of developing a wind farm containing about 107 turbines on privately owned land in Johnston and Pontotoc counties, senior project developer Kent Dougherty said Thursday. He said the company is finalizing some permitting work and lining up construction financing. but officials don’t see any obstacles that would prevent construction from starting by the end of this year.

“It would be online by the end of 2020,” he said.

The wind farm will be built on about 20,000 acres in Johnston and Pontotoc counties, including 2,240 acres on Pontotoc County’s southern edge. A maintenance and operations center will be built close to the wind farm, possibly in Mill Creek.

Dougherty said that area was a good choice for the wind farm because it was close to a power transmission line, and landowners were receptive to the idea.

“We need to secure land rights in order to build the project, and we were able to work with a number of landowners in this area who understood the benefits of hosting a wind farm,” he said. “All that came together really nicely.”

Dougherty said construction may take nine to 12 months, and it will generate several hundred temporary jobs. He added that Apex tries to hire as many local workers — both skilled and unskilled — as possible during construction, but a lot of the skilled workers required to build the turbines will come from across the country.

The completed wind farm will be tied to the power grid at Oklahoma Gas and Electric’s substation in Tishomingo. It will be capable of generating up to 300 megawatts of electricity — enough to power about 110,000 homes — which will be distributed throughout the Oklahoma grid.

The wind farm will employ between 10 to 12 full-time workers for operations and maintenance.

Economic benefits

Landowners who have wind turbines on their property will receive annual lease payments, which will continue over the project’s 30-year lifespan, according to Apex. The company estimates those payments will inject millions of dollars into the economy in Johnston and Pontotoc counties, supporting local businesses.

Dougherty said over the next 30 years, the wind farm will generate roughly $30 million in ad valorem tax revenue for three school districts — Mill Creek, Roff and Tishomingo. But he noted that tax revenue from the wind farm could affect the amount of state aid those districts receive.

If you get to Possumneck you've gone too far

Was it William Shakespeare or Bill Dundee who asked, “What’s in a name?”When it comes down to town names in Mississippi, it turns out quite a lot.Cowpen, MS, is located in Attala County, east of Kosciusko. I heard a weather channel reporter try and pronounce Kosciusko once and it wasn’t pretty.How about Ecru, MS? Ecru means beige and the town’s name came from the color of it’s railroad depot.Alligator is a town in the northernmost part of the state in Boliver County. This one is...

Was it William Shakespeare or Bill Dundee who asked, “What’s in a name?”

When it comes down to town names in Mississippi, it turns out quite a lot.

Cowpen, MS, is located in Attala County, east of Kosciusko. I heard a weather channel reporter try and pronounce Kosciusko once and it wasn’t pretty.

How about Ecru, MS? Ecru means beige and the town’s name came from the color of it’s railroad depot.

Alligator is a town in the northernmost part of the state in Boliver County. This one is easy, the town gets its name from a nearby lake, Alligator Lake, which once had a large population of alligators.

Bude, MS, is a nice town. Don’t be rude in Bude.

There’s Carriere, MS. Don’t show your derrière in Carriere.

Be nice. In fact you can be a darling, in Darling, MS., located in Quitman County, north of Marks.

There’s a Friar’s Point, MS, but no baker's hill or boiling pot.

Know anyone from Goodman, MS? I bet you do know someone from Star, MS. Country music singing star Faith Hill is from Star.

Where is Weir, MS? It’s nice, but some say it Weirs on you.

Dragon, MS, is located appropriately in Forrest County, which is where all good dragons should be.

Promised Land, MS, was once a town located in Sunflower County north of present day Drew.

Of course at the other end of the name spectrum is Merry Hell, MS, an unincorporated community in Simpson County. According to Wikipedia, Merry Hell was so named from the family feuds of the early Scottish settlers.

Red Lick, MS, is an incorporated community located in Jefferson County, MS. It’s located in the basin adjoining the Big Red Candy Apple River.

In central Lauderdale County you can visit Zero, MS. It’s about five and a half miles southeast of Meridian. The speed limit is a minus 20.

Eulogy, MS, was located in Holmes County and did not participate in the 2010 census. But everyone expressed their condolences for not participating.

Jug Fork, MS, is located on the Lee-Union County line in Northeast MS. I’m told Mrs. Fork was quite a dish, but she ran away with the spoon.

If you’re in Alcorn County you can drop by Cuba, MS. You can get your picture taken by a statue of Desi Arnaz’s Congos.

If the weather’s cold you might drop by Hot Coffee, MS, located in Covington County. The town was named after the popularity of store owner L.J. Davis’ coffee, which was made from pure spring water, New Orleans beans and molasses drippings for sweetener. Legend has it that the Devil traded a guitar player’s soul for a cup of Davis’ java.

About 16 miles southeast of Meridian you can visit Whynot, MS. What’s wrong with Whynot?

Then there’s Chunky, MS. No it’s not named after chocolate ice cream. It’s named after Chunky Creek, which is three miles east of town. It’s in Newton County.

Possumneck, MS, is located in Attala County. I’m told that Granny Clampett’s favorite restaurant is located there.

Itta Bena is in Leflore County. It’s just down the road from Itsy Bitsy, MS, but it’s bigger and has more blues musicians.

Leakesville is a nice town. And I hear there’s plenty of good plumbers in that town.

Learned, MS, is located in Hinds County. You can’t tell nobody nothing there, you have to ask them something.

Montrose, MS, is located in Jasper County. But it’s not the town where Deep Purple recorded their Smoke on the Water album.

Picayune’s a nice town, but the yunes are really picked over.

The folks are nice in Ruleville, MS, down in Sunflower County, but if you break the rules they put you in jail until you spell Shuqualak correctly.

Scooba, MS, is the birthplace of Scooby Doo

State Line, MS, I’m guessing it’s not in the middle of the state.

Como, MS. The youngest of those Como boys, Perry, was a good singer.

Shiver’s MS, located in Simpson County is not known for its cold weather. It’s supposedly named after a man named Evan Shivers who in 1886 applied for a post office with a heater.

Duck Hill, MS, has nothing to do with ducks. According to folks in Montgomery County, the town is named after Chief Duck, a Choctaw medicine man and shaman, who lived in the town at the top of a hill.

Tchula, pronounced “chew-huh”, is located in Holmes County. The town’s not named after a sneeze.

I’ve never been to Arm, MS, located about six miles Southeast of Monticello. It’s famous for pistols and Lego toys.

My favorite is Pontotoc. Or as Mayor Howard Stafford pronounced it, “Pontok."

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